Most kids have enjoyed a trip to the farm at some point, but one Greater Manchester attraction has upped its game this school holidays . Farm Fest launched at Reddish Vale Farm in Stockport at the weekend and I was among the first to give it a try, taking my nieces Darcie and Bella along for the fun. As well as offering all the usual animal petting and play experiences it is renowned for, the attraction has added a huge dose of festival fun from now until August 26.
Read more: 50 things to do with the kids in and around Manchester this school holidays Pony grooming at Reddish Vale Farm (Image: Manchester Family / MEN) Upon arrival you're given everything you need: a passport and a timetable. And for £1.50 you can buy a mini bucket of carrots to feed the large animals along the way.
As you walk through the main entrance you arrive in the larger animal barn, where cute little pygmy goats greet you - and your buckets of carrots - very eagerly. We fed a cow while her calf watched on, then we met some friendly lambs, goats of various breeds in a bigger pen, some very cute meerkats, a horse and a few donkeys, one of which had the girls in hysterics by loudly kicking the gate in the hope of more carrots. One of the huge bouncing pillows in the play area (Image: Manchester Family / MEN) Luckily for us, we arrived on Sunday morning just in time for pony grooming.
The girls were given riding hats to wear and handed a soft bristled brush before meeting the beautiful pony Fudge, who let.